Flooding

• What happens in flooding?

  phobic patient is exposed to an extreme form of the phobic stimulus straight away
• how many sessions are needed/ how long each session?

  • small number of longer sessions needed
• what does the patient NOT have?

  an avoidance option
• what does the patient learn quicky?

  that the phobic stimulus is harmless
• how does it work in terms of anxiety?

  a persons anxiety peaks, it cannot be maintained at this high level as our energy levels cannot sustain this so has to fall
• what happens when the persons anxiety does drop?

  provided the patient is kept in the presence of the phobic stimulus, the low level of anxiety is now associated with the phobic stimulus

  • the CS is encountered with lower anxiety therefore the CS no longer produces the CR (fear) but a new CR of lowered anxiety
• is flooding ethically okay?

  yes. but you must have full informed consent from patient as the procedure is traumatic
• what are patients usually given the choice between?

  SD and flooding